The Mackay Trophy was established on 27 January 1911 by Clarence Hungerford Mackay, who was then head of the Postal Telegraph-Cable Company and the Commercial Cable Company

Commercial Cable Company

The Commercial Cable Company was founded in the United States in 1884 by John William Mackay and James Gordon Bennett, Jr. Their motivation was to break the then virtual monopoly of Jay Gould on transatlantic telegraphy and bring down prices .The technology was well established by this time, and...

. Originally, aviators could compete for the trophy annually under rules made each year or the War Department could award the trophy for the most meritorious flight of the year. Today the award is administered by the United States National Aeronautic Association

National Aeronautic Association

The National Aeronautic Association of the United States is a non-profit 501 organization and a member of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale , the international standard setting and record-keeping body for aeronautics and astronautics. NAA is the official record-keeper for United States...

 and is awarded yearly by the United States Air Force

United States Air Force

The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...

 for the "most meritorious flight

Flight

Flight is the process by which an object moves either through an atmosphere or beyond it by generating lift or propulsive thrust, or aerostatically using buoyancy, or by simple ballistic movement....

 of the year" by an Air Force person, persons, or organization. The trophy is housed in the Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian Institution

The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...

's National Air and Space Museum

National Air and Space Museum

The National Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institution holds the largest collection of historic aircraft and spacecraft in the world. It was established in 1976. Located in Washington, D.C., United States, it is a center for research into the history and science of aviation and...

.

1910s

Year	|Awardee	|Action
1912	Lieutenant Henry Harley Arnold	"Most Meritorious Flight" during a reconnaissance Reconnaissance Reconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....  competition flown over Virginia Virginia The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...  on 9 October 1912.
1913	Second Lieutenant Joseph Eugene Carberry Second Lieutenant Fred Seydel	Reconnaissance
1914	Captain Townsend Foster Dodd Townsend Foster Dodd Townsend Foster Dodd was a pioneer aviator. In 1914 he won the Mackay Trophy.-Biography:He was born on March 6, 1886. In 1914 he won the Mackay Trophy. He died in 1919 in an air crash.-External links:* at Early Aviators... Lieutenant S. W. Fitzgerald	Reconnaissance
1915	Lieutenant Bradley Q. Jones Bradley Q. Jones This needs to be deleted or merged with Byron Q. Jones. Byron Q. JonesMajor Bradley Q. Jones, was Commander of the Eastern Zone of the Air Corps Air Mail Service.-References:...	Duration record of 8 hours 53 minutes.
1916		Not Awarded
1917		Not Awarded
1918	Captain Eddie Rickenbacker Eddie Rickenbacker Edward Vernon Rickenbacker was an American fighter ace in World War I and Medal of Honor recipient. He was also a race car driver and automotive designer, a government consultant in military matters and a pioneer in air transportation, particularly as the longtime head of Eastern Air Lines.-Early...	Highest scoring American ace Flying ace A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...  of World War I World War I World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918... ; 16 air-to-air victories.
1919	Lieutenant Colonel Harold E. Hartney Captain John O. Donaldson Captain Lowell Herbert Smith Captain F. Steinle Lieutenant Belvin N. Maynard Lieutenant Alexander Pearson, Jr. Alexander Pearson, Jr. Lieutenant Alexander Pearson, Jr. was a prominent aviation figure in the Army Air Service from 1919 until his death in 1924. He is credited with setting the world speed record in March 1923. Pearson Field in Vancouver, Washington was dedicated in his honor on by order of the Secretary of War Major... Lieutenant R. S. Northington Lieutenant E. M. Manzelman Lieutenant B. G. Bagby Lieutenant D. B. Gish	For flights between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

1920s

Year	|Awardee	|Action
1920	Captain St. Clair Streett St. Clair Streett St. Clair Streett , known as "Bill", was a United States Air Force major general and writer who first organized and led the Strategic Air Command . Streett served as aide to air power advocate General Billy Mitchell, and was viewed by General of the Air Force Henry H... First Lieutenant Clifford C. Nutt Second Lieutenant Eric H. Nelon Second Lieutenant C. H. Crumrine Second Lieutenant Ross C. Kirkpatrick Sergeant Edmond Henriques Sergeant Albert T. Vierra Sergeant Joe E. English	For their flights to and from Nome, Alaska Nome, Alaska Nome is a city in the Nome Census Area in the Unorganized Borough of the U.S. state of Alaska, located on the southern Seward Peninsula coast on Norton Sound of the Bering Sea. According to the 2010 Census, the city population was 3,598. Nome was incorporated on April 9, 1901, and was once the... .
1921	Lieutenant John Arthur Macready John Arthur Macready John Arthur Macready was an American test pilot and aviator. He was the only three-time recipient of the Mackay Trophy, receiving the trophy three consecutive years.-History:...	World altitude record.
1922	Lieutenant John Arthur Macready John Arthur Macready John Arthur Macready was an American test pilot and aviator. He was the only three-time recipient of the Mackay Trophy, receiving the trophy three consecutive years.-History:... Lieutenant Oakley George Kelly	World duration record.
1923	Lieutenant John Arthur Macready John Arthur Macready John Arthur Macready was an American test pilot and aviator. He was the only three-time recipient of the Mackay Trophy, receiving the trophy three consecutive years.-History:... Lieutenant Oakley George Kelly	Non-stop transcontinental flight.
1924	Captain Lowell Herbert Smith First Lieutenant Leslie P. Arnold First Lieutenant Leigh Wade First Lieutenant Eric H. Nelson Second Lieutenant Henry H. Ogden	First round-the-world Circumnavigation Circumnavigation – literally, "navigation of a circumference" – refers to travelling all the way around an island, a continent, or the entire planet Earth.- Global circumnavigation :...  flight.
1925	Lieutenant James H. Doolittle Lieutenant Cyrus K. Bettis Cyrus K. Bettis Lieutenant Cyrus K. Bettis was an American army aviator who won several races and set the then airspeed record for a closed-circuit race in 1925. He died after he crashed his aircraft less than a year later.-Biography:...	For winning the Schneider and Pulitzer Races.
1926	Major Herbert A. Dargue Herbert Dargue Herbert Arthur "Bert" Dargue was a career officer in the United States Army, reaching the rank of major general in the Army Air Forces. He was a pioneer military aviator and one of the first ten recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross.Dargue entered the United States Military Academy on June... Captain Ira Clarence Eaker Ira Clarence Eaker General Ira Clarence Eaker was a general of the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. Eaker, as second-in-command of the prospective Eighth Air Force, was sent to England to form and organize its bomber command... Captain Arthur B. McDaniel Captain C. F. Woolsey First Lieutenant J. W. Benton First Lieutenant Charles McRobinson First Lieutenant Muir Stephen Fairchild First Lieutenant Bernard S. Thompson First Lieutenant Leonard D. Weddingon First Lieutenant Ennis Whitehead Ennis Whitehead Ennis Clement Whitehead was an early United States Army aviator and a United States Army Air Forces general during World War II. Whitehead joined the U. S. Army after the United States entered World War I in 1917...	Pan-American Good Will Flyers.
1927	Lieutenant Albert Francis Hegenberger Albert Francis Hegenberger Albert Francis Hegenberger was a Major General in the United States Air Force and a pioneering aviator who set a flight distance record in 1927.-Biography:He was born on September 30, 1895 in Boston, Massachusetts.... Lieutenant Lester James Maitland	Hawaii Hawaii Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of... an flight.
1928	Lieutenant Harry A. Sutton	Performing spin testing of observation aircraft.
1929	Captain A. W. Steven	Long range aerial photography Aerial photography Aerial photography is the taking of photographs of the ground from an elevated position. The term usually refers to images in which the camera is not supported by a ground-based structure. Cameras may be hand held or mounted, and photographs may be taken by a photographer, triggered remotely or... .

1930s

Year	|Awardee	|Action
1930	Major Ralph Royce Ralph Royce Ralph Royce was a United States Army Air Forces general during World War II. A West Point graduate who learned to fly in 1915–16, he served with the 1st Aero Squadron in the Pancho Villa Expedition and later led it on the Western Front...	For conducting an 'Arctic Patrol' round trip flight from Selfridge Field Selfridge Field Selfridge Air National Guard Base or Selfridge ANGB is an Air National Guard installation located in Harrison Township, Michigan, near Mount Clemens.-Units and organizations:...  to Spokane, Washington Spokane, Washington Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region... , in January 1930. The flight provided valuable information about equipment and personnel operating in extreme cold weather.
1931	Brigadier General Benjamin Delahauf Foulois	Commanded the 1st Air Divions (Provisional) through 40,000 flying hours with no loss of life or serious injury.
1932	11th Bombardment Squadron  First Lieutenant Charles H. Howard	Relief Humanitarian aid Humanitarian aid is material or logistical assistance provided for humanitarian purposes, typically in response to humanitarian crises including natural disaster and man-made disaster. The primary objective of humanitarian aid is to save lives, alleviate suffering, and maintain human dignity...  missions to snowbound Navajo Navajo people The Navajo of the Southwestern United States are the largest single federally recognized tribe of the United States of America. The Navajo Nation has 300,048 enrolled tribal members. The Navajo Nation constitutes an independent governmental body which manages the Navajo Indian reservation in the...  and Hopi Hopi The Hopi are a federally recognized tribe of indigenous Native American people, who primarily live on the Hopi Reservation in northeastern Arizona. The Hopi area according to the 2000 census has a population of 6,946 people. Their Hopi language is one of the 30 of the Uto-Aztecan language... .
1933	Captain Westside T. Larson Westside T. Larson Westside T. Larson headed the Atlantic coast antisubmarine warfare group. In 1933 he won the Mackay Trophy.-Biography:...	For his pioneering flights in connection with the development of methods and procedure of Aerial Frontier Defense.
1934	Lieutenant Colonel Henry H. Arnold Henry H. Arnold Henry Harley "Hap" Arnold was an American general officer holding the grades of General of the Army and later General of the Air Force. Arnold was an aviation pioneer, Chief of the Air Corps , Commanding General of the U.S...	Commanding officer of mass flight of 10 Martin B-10 Martin B-10 The Martin B-10 was the first all-metal monoplane bomber to go into regular use by the United States Army Air Corps, entering service in June 1934... s from Bolling Field to Fairbanks, Alaska Fairbanks, Alaska Fairbanks is a home rule city in and the borough seat of the Fairbanks North Star Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska.Fairbanks is the largest city in the Interior region of Alaska, and second largest in the state behind Anchorage... , and back.
1935	Captain Albert William Stevens Albert William Stevens Albert William Stevens was an officer in the United States Army Air Corps, balloonist and aerial photographer.-Biography:He was born on March 13, 1886 in Belfast, Maine.... Captain Orvil Arson Anderson Orvil Arson Anderson General Orvil Arson Anderson was a pioneer balloonist. In 1935 he and Albert William Stevens won the Mackay Trophy when they set a record of 72,395 feet in their balloon.-Biography:...	Flew balloon Balloon (aircraft) A balloon is a type of aircraft that remains aloft due to its buoyancy. A balloon travels by moving with the wind. It is distinct from an airship, which is a buoyant aircraft that can be propelled through the air in a controlled manner....  to 72,395—a then-record.
1936	Captain Richard Emmel Nugent First Lieutenant Joseph A. Miller First Lieutenant Edwin G. Simenson Second Lieutenant William P. Ragsdale, Jr. Second Lieutenant Burton W. Armstrong Second Lieutenant Herbert Morgan, Jr. Tech Sergeant Gilbert W. Olson Staff Sergeant Howard M. Miller Corporal Air Mechanic 2/c Frank B. Connor	For demonstration of expert instrument flying and navigation, and the will to overcome obstacles to accomplish their mission under exceptionally adverse weather conditions during a flight of three B-10 Martin B-10 The Martin B-10 was the first all-metal monoplane bomber to go into regular use by the United States Army Air Corps, entering service in June 1934...  s from Langley Field to Allegan, Michigan Allegan, Michigan Allegan is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 4,838. It is the county seat of Allegan County. The city lies within Allegan Township, but is administratively autonomous.... .
1937	Captain Carl J. Crane Captain George Vernon Holloman	For successful development and demonstration of an automatic landing system.
1938	2d Bombardment Group Lieutenant Colonel Robert Olds Robert Olds Robert Olds was a general officer in the United States Army Air Forces, theorist of strategic air power, and proponent of an independent United States Air Force. Olds is best known today as the father of Brig. Gen...	For good will flight to Buenos Aires Buenos Aires Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...  and return.
1939	Major Caleb Vance Haynes Major William D. Old Captain John Alexander Samford First Lieutenant Richard S. Freeman First Lieutenant Torgils G. Wold Tech Sergeant William J. Heldt Tech Sergeant Henry L. Hines Tech Sergeant David L. Spicer Staff Sergeant Russell E. Junior Staff Sergeant James E. Sands Master Sergeant Adolph Cattarius	For flight of Boeing XB-15 Boeing XB-15 |-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Boniface, Patrick. "Boeing's Forgotten Monster: XB-15 a Giant in Search of a Cause." Air Enthusiast, 79 January–February 1999....  from Langley Field to Chile Chile Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...  on relief mission after 1939 Chillán earthquake 1939 Chillán earthquake The 1939 Chillán earthquake was a major earthquake in south-central Chile. It is currently the single earthquake that has caused the most deaths in Chile. The earthquake occurred on 24 January 1939 and had an intensity of 8.3 MS... .

1940s

Year	|Awardee	|Action
1940		Not Awarded
1941		Not Awarded
1942		Not Awarded
1943		Not Awarded
1944		Not Awarded
1945		Not Awarded
1946		Not Awarded
1947	Captain Chuck Yeager Chuck Yeager Charles Elwood "Chuck" Yeager is a retired major general in the United States Air Force and noted test pilot. He was the first pilot to travel faster than sound...	First to break the sound barrier Sound barrier The sound barrier, in aerodynamics, is the point at which an aircraft moves from transonic to supersonic speed. The term, which occasionally has other meanings, came into use during World War II, when a number of aircraft started to encounter the effects of compressibility, a collection of several...  in the Bell X-1 Bell X-1 The Bell X-1, originally designated XS-1, was a joint NACA-U.S. Army/US Air Force supersonic research project built by Bell Aircraft. Conceived in 1944 and designed and built over 1945, it eventually reached nearly 1,000 mph in 1948... .
1948	Lieutenant Colonel Emil Beadry	For the rescue of twelve marooned airmen from the Greenland ice sheet Greenland ice sheet The Greenland ice sheet is a vast body of ice covering , roughly 80% of the surface of Greenland. It is the second largest ice body in the world, after the Antarctic Ice Sheet. The ice sheet is almost long in a north-south direction, and its greatest width is at a latitude of 77°N, near its...
1949	Crew of Lucky Lady II Lucky Lady II Lucky Lady II is a United States Air Force Boeing B-50 Superfortress that became the first airplane to circle the world nonstop, when it made the journey in 1949, assisted by refueling the plane in flight. Total time airborne was 94 hours and 1 minute...   Captain James G. Gallagher	First non-stop aerial round-the-world Circumnavigation Circumnavigation – literally, "navigation of a circumference" – refers to travelling all the way around an island, a continent, or the entire planet Earth.- Global circumnavigation :...  flight.

1950s

Year	|Awardee	|Action
1950	27th Fighter Wing 27th Fighter Wing The 27th Special Operations Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force stationed at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico. It is assigned to the Air Force Special Operations Command...	For moving 180 fighter jets across the Atlantic Ocean Atlantic Ocean The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area... .
1951	Colonel Fred Ascani Fred Ascani Alfredo John Ascani was an American Major General and test pilot of the United States Air Force. He was one of the "Men of Mach 1" and was considered father of Systems Engineering at Wright Field.-Early years:...	For breaking the world speed record at 635.686 mph at the National Air Races National Air Races The National Air Races were a series of pylon and cross-country races that took place in the United States from 1920 to 1949. The science of aviation, and the speed and reliability of aircraft and engines grew rapidly during this period; the National Air Races were both a proving ground and... .
1952	Major Louis H. Carrington, Jr. Major Frederick W. Shook Captain Wallace D. Yancey	First non-stop flight across the Pacific Ocean Pacific Ocean The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...  in a multi-engine jet bomber; a B-45 Tornado B-45 Tornado The North American B-45 Tornado was the United States Air Force's first operational jet bomber, and the first jet aircraft to be refueled in the air. The B-45 was an important part of the United States's nuclear deterrent for several years in the early 1950s, but was rapidly succeeded by the Boeing... .
1953	40th Air Division	For flying 25 F-84 Thunderjet F-84 Thunderjet The Republic F-84 Thunderjet was an American turbojet fighter-bomber aircraft. Originating as a 1944 United States Army Air Forces proposal for a "day fighter", the F-84 flew in 1946... s non-stop from the United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...  to the United Kingdom United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...  and North Africa North Africa North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...  under adverse conditions.
1954	308th Bombardment Wing	For successfully completing a leap from intercontinental maneuver, a milestone in expanding and proving the combined operational capabilities of the B-47 Stratojet B-47 Stratojet The Boeing Model 450 B-47 Stratojet was a long-range, six-engined, jet-powered medium bomber built to fly at high subsonic speeds and at high altitudes. It was primarily designed to drop nuclear bombs on the Soviet Union...  and in determining fatigue limits of combat crews.
1955	Colonel Horace A. Hanes	Breaking the flight airspeed record at 822.1 mph in an F-100 Super Sabre F-100 Super Sabre The North American F-100 Super Sabre was a supersonic jet fighter aircraft that served with the United States Air Force from 1954 to 1971 and with the Air National Guard until 1979. The first of the Century Series collection of USAF jet fighters, it was the first USAF fighter capable of...  at the National Air Show.
1956	Captain Iven C. Kincheloe	Breaking the flight altitude record Flight altitude record These are the records set for going the highest in the atmosphere from the age of ballooning onward. Some records are certified by Fédération Aéronautique Internationale.-Fixed-wing aircraft:-Piston-driven propeller aeroplane:...  in a Bell X-2 Bell X-2 -Popular culture:* The 1956 film Toward the Unknown starred the X-2, William Holden, Lloyd Nolan and Virginia Leith. A brainwashed former POW tries to return to test flying; co-starring the Martin XB-51 and the Edwards AFB flight line.... .
1957	93d Bombardment Wing	For non-stop circumnavigation Circumnavigation Circumnavigation – literally, "navigation of a circumference" – refers to travelling all the way around an island, a continent, or the entire planet Earth.- Global circumnavigation :...  of the globe by three B-52 Stratofortress B-52 Stratofortress The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range, subsonic, jet-powered strategic bomber operated by the United States Air Force since the 1950s. The B-52 was designed and built by Boeing, who have continued to provide maintainence and upgrades to the aircraft in service... es.
1958	Tactical Air Command Tactical Air Command Tactical Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 being headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia... 's Air Strike Force, X-Ray Tango	For its rapid and effective deployment to the troubled Far East Far East The Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,...  during the fall of 1958.
1959	U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds The Thunderbirds are the air demonstration squadron of the U.S. Air Force , based at Nellis AFB in Las Vegas, Nevada. The squadron tours the United States and much of the world, performing aerobatic formation and solo flying in specially marked USAF jet aircraft...	For goodwill tour of the Far East Far East The Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,... .

1960s

Year	|Awardee	|Action
1960	6593d Test Squadron	For its first aerial recovery of an object from space orbit.
1961	Lieutenant Colonel William R. Payne Major William L. Polthemus Major Raymond R. Wagener	For their nonstop flight from Carswell Air Force Base Carswell Air Force Base Carswell Air Force Base, was a United States Air Force Strategic Air Command base located about northwest central of Fort Worth, Texas, United States; the air force base is mostly within the Fort Worth city limits and has portions within Westworth and White Settlement...  to Paris Paris Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region... , which culminated in the establishment of two international speed records.
1962	Major Robert G. Sowers Captain Robert MacDonald Captain John T. Walton	For flight as members of a B-58 Hustler B-58 Hustler The Convair B-58 Hustler was the first operational supersonic jet bomber capable of Mach 2 flight. The aircraft was designed by Convair engineer Robert H. Widmer and developed for the United States Air Force for service in the Strategic Air Command during the 1960s...  crew which established three transcontinental speed records.
1963	Crew of C-47 "Extol Pink" Captain Warren P. Tomsett Captain John R. Ordemann Captain Donald R. Mack Tech Sergeant Edson P. Inlow Staff Sergeant Jack E. Morgan Staff Sergeant Frank C. Barrett	For the evacuation of wounded troops in Vietnam Vietnam Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...  at night under enemy fire with a C-47 Skytrain C-47 Skytrain The Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota is a military transport aircraft that was developed from the Douglas DC-3 airliner. It was used extensively by the Allies during World War II and remained in front line operations through the 1950s with a few remaining in operation to this day.-Design and... .
1964	464th Troop Carrier Wing	For its participation in the humanitarian Humanitarian aid Humanitarian aid is material or logistical assistance provided for humanitarian purposes, typically in response to humanitarian crises including natural disaster and man-made disaster. The primary objective of humanitarian aid is to save lives, alleviate suffering, and maintain human dignity...  airlift Airlift Airlift is the act of transporting people or cargo from point to point using aircraft.Airlift may also refer to:*Airlift , a suction device for moving sand and silt underwater-See also:...  of some 1,500 hostage Hostage A hostage is a person or entity which is held by a captor. The original definition meant that this was handed over by one of two belligerent parties to the other or seized as security for the carrying out of an agreement, or as a preventive measure against certain acts of war... s and refugees from rebel held territory in the Republic of the Congo Republic of the Congo The Republic of the Congo , sometimes known locally as Congo-Brazzaville, is a state in Central Africa. It is bordered by Gabon, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo , the Angolan exclave province of Cabinda, and the Gulf of Guinea.The region was dominated by...  during November 1964.
1965	Colonel Robert L. Stephens Robert L. Stephens Robert L. "Silver Fox" Stephens was an American United States Air Force test pilot who set several speed and altitude records while testing the Lockheed YF-12 and SR-71.-Early years:Robert L... Lieutnenat Colonel Daniel Andre Lieutenant Colonel Walter F. Daniel Major Noel T. Warner Major James P. Cooney	For flight in the Lockheed YF-12 Lockheed YF-12 The Lockheed YF-12 was an American prototype interceptor aircraft, which the United States Air Force evaluated as a development of the highly-secret Lockheed A-12 that also spawned the SR-71 Blackbird.-Design and development:... , which culminated in the establishment of nine new world speed and altitude records.
1966	Lieutenant Colonel Albert R. Howarth	For his exemplary courage and airmanship as a pilot in a combat strike mission in Southeast Asia Southeast Asia Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...  under hazardous conditions of darkness and intense enemy fire.
1967	Major John J. Casteel Captain Dean L. Hoar Captain Richard L. Trail Master Sergeant Nathan C. Campbell	For performing the first multiple aerial refueling Aerial refueling Aerial refueling, also called air refueling, in-flight refueling , air-to-air refueling or tanking, is the process of transferring fuel from one aircraft to another during flight....  between a KC-135 Stratotanker KC-135 Stratotanker The Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker is an aerial refueling military aircraft. It and the Boeing 707 airliner were developed from the Boeing 367-80 prototype. The KC-135 was the US Air Force's first jet-powered refueling tanker and replaced the KC-97 Stratotanker...  and an A-3 Skywarrior A-3 Skywarrior The Douglas A-3 Skywarrior was originally designed as a strategic bomber for the United States Navy and was among the longest serving carrier-based jet aircraft in history. It entered service in the mid-1950s and was retired in 1991...  which simultaneously refueled an F-8 Crusader F-8 Crusader The Vought F-8 Crusader was a single-engine, supersonic, carrier-based air superiority jet aircraft built by Vought for the United States Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps, replacing the Vought F7U Cutlass...  under emergency fuel shortages and combat condition.
1968	Lieutenant Colonel Daryl D. Cole	For gallantry as a C-130 Hercules C-130 Hercules The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport...  pilot in the emergency evacuation of personnel in Vietnam Vietnam Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –... .
1969	49th Fighter Wing 49th Fighter Wing The 49th Wing is an air combat unit of the United States Air Force and the host unit at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico. The 49 WG is part of the Air Combat Command Twelfth Air Force....	For a flawless deployment of 72 F-4 Phantom II F-4 Phantom II The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is a tandem two-seat, twin-engined, all-weather, long-range supersonic jet interceptor fighter/fighter-bomber originally developed for the United States Navy by McDonnell Aircraft. It first entered service in 1960 with the U.S. Navy. Proving highly adaptable,... s from Spangdahlem Air Base Spangdahlem Air Base Spangdahlem Air Base is a United States Air Force base located near the small German town of Spangdahlem, approximately 30 km NNE of the city of Trier, Rhineland-Palatinate.-Units:...  to Holloman Air Force Base Holloman Air Force Base Holloman Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located six miles southwest of the central business district of Alamogordo, a city in Otero County, New Mexico, United States. The base was named in honor of Col. George V. Holloman, a pioneer in guided missile research...  without a single abort, completing 504 successful air-to-air refuelings on the 5,000 mile trip.

1970s

Year	|Awardee	|Action
1970	Captain Alan D. Milacek Captain James A. Russell Captain Roger E. Clancy Captain Ronald C. Jones Captain Brent C. O'Brien Tech Sergeant Albert A. Nash Staff Sergeant Adolfo Lopez, Jr. Staff Sergeant Ronald R. Wilson Sergeant Kenneth E. Firestone Airman First Class Donnell H. Cofer	Displaying great courage in returning their heavily damaged aircraft to their air base.
1971	Lieutenant Colonel Thomas B. Estes Major Dewain C. Vick	For their operation of an SR-71 Blackbird SR-71 Blackbird The Lockheed SR-71 "Blackbird" was an advanced, long-range, Mach 3+ strategic reconnaissance aircraft. It was developed as a black project from the Lockheed A-12 reconnaissance aircraft in the 1960s by the Lockheed Skunk Works. Clarence "Kelly" Johnson was responsible for many of the...  aircraft establishing new world records for duration and distance covered.
1972	Captain Charles B. DeBellevue Charles B. DeBellevue Colonel Charles Barbin “Chuck” DeBellevue is a retired officer in the United States Air Force. In 1972, while flying during the Vietnam War, DeBellevue became the first Air Force Weapon Systems Officer to become a flying "Ace". He was credited with a total of six MiG kills, the most earned by any... Captain Jeffrey S. Feinstein Captain R. Stephen Ritchie	For their extraordinary gallantry, superb airmanship, and intrepidity in the face of the enemy. (They were the three US Air Force "Aces Flying ace A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more... " from the Vietnam War Vietnam War The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of... .)
1973	Operation Homecoming Operation Homecoming Operation Homecoming was a series of diplomatic negotiations that in January 1973 made possible the return of 591 American prisoners of war held by North Vietnam. On Feb. 12, 1973, three C-141 transports flew to Hanoi, North Vietnam, and one C-9A aircraft was sent to Saigon, South Vietnam to pick...   Military Airlift Command Military Airlift Command The Military Airlift Command is an inactive United States Air Force Major Command of the USAF which was headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. It was constituted on 1 January 1966 and active until the end of the Cold War, when the Air Force table of organization was revised...  Aircrews	For their efforts to repatriate U.S. prisoners of war from Vietnam Vietnam Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –... .
1974	Major Roger J. Smith Major David W. Peterson Major Willard R. MacFarlane	For participating in F-15 advanced fight test during which time eight world class time-to-climb records were established.
1975	Major Robert W. Undorf	For gallantry and resourcefulness during the joint military operation to rescue and insure the return of the SS Mayagüez SS Mayagüez SS Mayaguez was a U.S.-flagged container ship that attained notoriety for its 12 May 1975 seizure by Khmer Rouge forces of Cambodia, which resulted in a confrontation with the United States at the close of the Vietnam War....  crew from an opposing armed force on Koh Tang Koh Tang Koh Tang is an island off the coast of Preah Sihanouk Province in the Gulf of Thailand. The island is approximately 43 km southwest off the coast of Cambodia...  in the Gulf of Thailand Gulf of Thailand The Gulf of Thailand , also known in to Malays as Teluk Siam literally meant Gulf of Siam, is a shallow arm of the South China Sea.-Geography:... .
1976	Captain James A. Yule	For gallantry and unusual presence of mind while participating in a flight as an instructor pilot of a B-52D Stratofortress. Captain James A Yule, distinguished himself by gallantry and unusual presence of mind while participating in an aerial flight as an instructor pilot of a B-52D aircraft on 19 May 1976. Captain Yule’s flight developed a unique multiple emergency and he assumed command of the aircraft, and at great personal risk, checked out the hydraulic open wheel well area to detect the problem. Using initiative, he coordinated with ground agencies and crew members and determined that a safe landing could be made after loss of braking and complete failure of steering. Captain Yule’s professional competence and outstanding airmanship under extreme stress resulted in successful recovery of the crew and a valuable aircraft. His courageous acts in landing a malfunctioning aircraft reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
1977	Captain David M. Sprinkel Crew of C-5 Mission AAM 1962-01	The aircrew, composed of members from the 436th Military Airlift Wing and the 512th Military Airlift Wing, airlifted a large super conducting Superconductivity Superconductivity is a phenomenon of exactly zero electrical resistance occurring in certain materials below a characteristic temperature. It was discovered by Heike Kamerlingh Onnes on April 8, 1911 in Leiden. Like ferromagnetism and atomic spectral lines, superconductivity is a quantum...  electromagnet Electromagnet An electromagnet is a type of magnet in which the magnetic field is produced by the flow of electric current. The magnetic field disappears when the current is turned off... , support equipment, and personnel in support of joint U.S.-U.S.S.R. energy research program.
1978	3d Military Airlift Squadron Crew Lieutenant Colonel Robert F. Schultz Lieutenant Colonel Daniel W. Pruitt Major John K. Roberts Captain Herbert H. Schaunaman, Jr. Captain John A. Messerly Tech Sergeant Owen L. Conlin Tech Sergeant Joe L. Dickey Staff Sergeant Raymond D. Stebleton Sergeant John E. Legere Sergeant David A. Kreyssig Senior Airman William W. Tepper Senior Airman Christopher A. Heitkamp Airman First Class Danny F. Jennings 9th Military Airlift Squadron Crew Major Jon S. Hillhouse Captain Todd H. Hohberger Captain Michael R. Smith Captain John P. Foley, Jr. Captain Douglas K. Kronemeyer Captain Michael A. Wright Master Sergeant Charles E. Harper Tech Sergeant Fred A. Booth, Jr. Tech Sergeant Joseph J. Clay Staff Sergeant David B. Pierson Airman First Class Thomas F. O’Brien Airman First Class Mark S. Homan	Two C-5 Galaxy C-5 Galaxy The Lockheed C-5 Galaxy is a large military transport aircraft built by Lockheed. It provides the United States Air Force with a heavy intercontinental-range strategic airlift capability, one that can carry outsize and oversize cargos, including all air-certifiable cargo. The Galaxy has many...  aircrews from the 436th Military Airlift Wing conducted the first C-5 airlift mission in support of the free world effort against rebel forces in Zaire Zaire The Republic of Zaire was the name of the present Democratic Republic of the Congo between 27 October 1971 and 17 May 1997. The name of Zaire derives from the , itself an adaptation of the Kongo word nzere or nzadi, or "the river that swallows all rivers".-Self-proclaimed Father of the Nation:In... .
1979	Major James E. McArdle, Jr.	For exceptional aerial skill in rescuing 28 Taiwanese Taiwanese people Taiwanese people may refer to individuals who either claim or are imputed cultural identity focused on the island of Taiwan and/or Taiwan Area which have been governed by the Republic of China since 1945...  seamen from a sinking cargo ship.

1980s

Year	|Awardee	|Action
1980	Crews S-21 and S-31 644th Bombardment Squadron	For executing a nonstop, around-the world mission with the immediate objective of locating and photographing elements of the Soviet Navy Soviet Navy The Soviet Navy was the naval arm of the Soviet Armed Forces. Often referred to as the Red Fleet, the Soviet Navy would have played an instrumental role in a Warsaw Pact war with NATO, where it would have attempted to prevent naval convoys from bringing reinforcements across the Atlantic Ocean...  operating in the Persian Gulf Persian Gulf The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers... .
1981	Captain John J. Walters	For participating in aerial flight as HH-3 Jolly Green Giant Commander in the rescue of 61 individuals, despite adverse conditions, from the burning cruise ship MS Prinsendam MS Prinsendam (1973) MS Prinsendam, a Holland-America liner built at Shipyard de Merwede in the Netherlands in 1973, was 427 feet long and typically carried about 350 passengers and 200 crew members. The liner was sailing through the Gulf of Alaska, approximately 120 miles south of Yakutat, Alaska, at midnight on... .
1982	Crew E-21 Captain Ronald L. Cavendish Captain Ronald D. Nass First Lieutenant James D. Gray First Lieutenant Michael J. Connor First Lieutenant Gerald E. Valentini Second Lieutenant Frank A. Boyle Tech Sergeant Ronald B. Wright	For successfully landing their crippled B-52 Stratofortress B-52 Stratofortress The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range, subsonic, jet-powered strategic bomber operated by the United States Air Force since the 1950s. The B-52 was designed and built by Boeing, who have continued to provide maintainence and upgrades to the aircraft in service... , under almost impossible conditions, thereby saving their lives and the aircraft.
1983	Crew E-113 Captain Robert J. Goodman Captain Michael F. Clover Captain Karol F. Wojcikowski Staff Sergeant Douglas D. Simmons	On 5 September 1983, the KC-135 Stratotanker KC-135 Stratotanker The Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker is an aerial refueling military aircraft. It and the Boeing 707 airliner were developed from the Boeing 367-80 prototype. The KC-135 was the US Air Force's first jet-powered refueling tanker and replaced the KC-97 Stratotanker...  crew saved an F-4 Phantom and its crew over the Atlantic. The KC-135 refueled the F-4 four times and towed it with the refueling boom.
1984	Lieutenant Colonel James L. Hobson, Jr.	For actions as aircraft commander of the lead MC-130E Combat Talon I during the Grenada rescue mission.
1985	Lieutenant Colonel David E. Faught	For heroism and outstanding airmanship in saving the lives of eight crewmembers and preventing the loss of an irreplaceable aircraft.
1986	Captain Marc D. Felman Captain Thomas M. Ferguson Master Sergeant Clarence Bridges, Jr. Master Sergeant Patrick S. Kennedy Master Sergeant Gerald G. Treadwell Tech Sergeant Lester G. Bouler Tech Sergeant Gerald M. Lewis Staff Sergeant Samuel S. Flores Staff Sergeant Scott A. Helms Staff Sergeant Gary L. Smith	Following a precipitous and hazardous launch in near zero-visibility weather conditions, the crew of a KC-10 Extender KC-10 Extender The McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender is the military adaptation of the three-engined DC-10 airliner for the United States Air Force . The KC-10 incorporates military-specific equipment for its primary roles of transport and aerial refueling. It was developed to supplement the KC-135 Stratotanker...  from the 68th Air Refueling Wing provided emergency refueling to a KC-10 and three A-4 Skyhawk A-4 Skyhawk The Douglas A-4 Skyhawk is a carrier-capable ground-attack aircraft designed for the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps. The delta winged, single-engined Skyhawk was designed and produced by Douglas Aircraft Company, and later McDonnell Douglas. It was originally designated the A4D...  over the Atlantic Ocean Atlantic Ocean The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...  on 5 March 1986.
1987	Detachment 15, Air Force Plant Representative Office and B-1B System Program Office
1988	Captain Michael Eastman	For commanding C-5 Galaxy C-5 Galaxy The Lockheed C-5 Galaxy is a large military transport aircraft built by Lockheed. It provides the United States Air Force with a heavy intercontinental-range strategic airlift capability, one that can carry outsize and oversize cargos, including all air-certifiable cargo. The Galaxy has many...  crew assigned to the 436th Military Airlift Wing. The aircraft and crew flew the first of the missions carrying equipment used to monitor nuclear testing Nuclear testing Nuclear weapons tests are experiments carried out to determine the effectiveness, yield and explosive capability of nuclear weapons. Throughout the twentieth century, most nations that have developed nuclear weapons have tested them...  to the Soviet Republic of Kazakhstan Kazakhstan Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...  for joint verification experiments.
1989	Lieutenant Colonel Joseph G. Day Captain Jeffrey K. Beene Captain Vernon B. Benton Captain Robert H. Hendricks	For successfully conducting the first-ever gear-up emergency landing of a B-1 Lancer B-1 Lancer The Rockwell B-1 LancerThe name "Lancer" is only applied to the B-1B version, after the program was revived. is a four-engine variable-sweep wing strategic bomber used by the United States Air Force...  aircraft.

1990s

Year	|Awardee	|Action
1990	Crew of AC-130H Spectre Lockheed AC-130 The Lockheed AC-130 gunship is a heavily-armed ground-attack aircraft variant of the C-130 Hercules transport plane. The basic airframe is manufactured by Lockheed, while Boeing is responsible for the conversion into a gunship and for aircraft support... Mission #1J1600GA354 16th Special Operations Squadron 16th Special Operations Squadron The 16th Special Operations Squadron is part of the 27th Special Operations Wing at Cannon AFB , New Mexico. It operates AC-130H Spectre aircraft in support of special operations.- Mission :...	For airmanship and outstanding professionalism of the crew during aerial flight over Panama Panama Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...  during Operation Just Cause.
1991	Crew of Moccasin-05 Captain Tom Trask Major Mike Homan Master Sergeant Timothy Hadrych Tech Sergeant Gregory Vanhyning Tech Sergeant James A. Peterson, Jr. Staff Sergeant Craig Dock Sergeant Thomas Bedard	For extraordinary heroism and self-sacrifice of the crew during the rescue of the pilot of Slate 46, a downed U.S. Navy F-14 Tomcat F-14 Tomcat The Grumman F-14 Tomcat is a supersonic, twin-engine, two-seat, variable-sweep wing fighter aircraft. The Tomcat was developed for the United States Navy's Naval Fighter Experimental program following the collapse of the F-111B project...  in Iraq Iraq Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....  during Operation Desert Storm.
1992	310th Airlift Squadron 310th Airlift Squadron The 310th Airlift Squadron is part of the 6th Air Mobility Wing at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. It operates C-37 aircraft providing executive airlfit for Combatant Commanders.-Mission:...  crew Major Christopher J. Duncan Captain Peter B. Eunice Captain Daniel G. Sobel Captain Robert K. Stich Master Sergeant Joseph C. Beard, Jr. Master Sergeant Carl V. Wilson Tech Sergeant John H. Armintrout Tech Sergeant Charles G. Bolden Tech Sergeant Rory E. Calhoun Tech Sergeant Ray A. Fisher Tech Sergeant Peter J. Paquette Tech Sergeant Andrew W. Toth Tech Sergeant Darren R. Tresler Staff Sergeant Ronald P. Hetzel	For extraordinary resourcefulness and unusual presence of mind during an unprovoked attack in international airspace.
1993	Crew E-21 Major Peter B. Mapes Captain Jeffrey R. Swegel Captain Joseph D. Rosmarin Captain Charles W. Patnaude Lieutenant Glen J. Caneel	For quick thinking, immediate reaction, and astute situational awareness enabling them to return a crippled B-52 Stratofortress B-52 Stratofortress The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range, subsonic, jet-powered strategic bomber operated by the United States Air Force since the 1950s. The B-52 was designed and built by Boeing, who have continued to provide maintainence and upgrades to the aircraft in service...  to stable flight and safe landing.
1994	Crew of Air Force Rescue 206 Captain John W. Blumentritt Captain Gary W. Henderson Staff Sergeant Matthew A. Wells Senior Airman Jeffrey M. Frembling Senior Airman Jesse W. Goerz Crew of Air Force Rescue 208 Lieutenant Colonel James A. Sills Lieutenant Colonel Gary L. Copsey Lieutenant Richard E. Assaf Tech Sergeant Gregory M. Reed Senior Airman William R. Payne	For extraordinary heroism and self-sacrifice during the rescue of six Icelanders Icelanders Icelanders are a Scandinavian ethnic group and a nation, native to Iceland.On 17 June 1944, when an Icelandic republic was founded the Icelanders became independent from the Danish monarchy. The language spoken is Icelandic, a North Germanic language, and Lutheranism is the predominant religion...  sailors who were stranded when their ship foundered in heavy seas and strong winds.
1995	Crew of BAT-01 Lieutenant Colonel Doug Raaberg Captain Gerald Goodfellow Captain Kevin Clotfelter Captain Rick Carver Captain Chris Stewart Captain Steve Adams Captain Kevin Houdek Captain Steve Reeves	For the aerial achievement demonstrating the B-1 Lancer B-1 Lancer The Rockwell B-1 LancerThe name "Lancer" is only applied to the B-1B version, after the program was revived. is a four-engine variable-sweep wing strategic bomber used by the United States Air Force...  capability with live bombing activity over three bombing ranges on three continent Continent A continent is one of several very large landmasses on Earth. They are generally identified by convention rather than any strict criteria, with seven regions commonly regarded as continents—they are : Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia.Plate tectonics is... s in two hemispheres.
1996	Duke 01 Flight Crew	For performing the first combat employment of the B-52H Stratofortress in history.
1997	Crew of Whiskey-05 MC-130H Combat Talon II Lieutenant Colonel Frank J. Kisner Major (Dr.) Robert S. Michaelson Captain John C. Baker Captain Reed Foster Captain Mark J. Ramsey Captain Robert P. Toth Master Sergeant Gordon H. Scott Tech Sergeant Tom L. Baker Staff Sergeant John D. Hensdill Staff Sergeant Jeffrey A. Hoyt	For overcoming hostile gunfire, three heavyweight air refuelings, and over 13 hours flying3179 nautical miles (5,888 km) to their objective to insert a Europe Europe Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting... an survey and assessment team and extract 56 people from the escalating Republic of the Congo Civil War, achieving this goal while on the ground for less than 23 minutes.
1998	Crew of Air Force Rescue 470	For making a mountaintop rescue of six survivors trapped inside an airplane which had crashed on a glacier Glacier A glacier is a large persistent body of ice that forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. At least 0.1 km² in area and 50 m thick, but often much larger, a glacier slowly deforms and flows due to stresses induced by its weight...  during a near-zero visibility approach in winds gusting to 45 knots.
1999	Captain Jeffrey G. J. Hwang	In recognition of an exceptionally meritorious F-15C Eagle flight during combat operations in support of Operation Allied Force Operation Allied Force The NATO bombing of Yugoslavia was NATO's military operation against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia during the Kosovo War. The strikes lasted from March 24, 1999 to June 10, 1999...  when he simultaneously destroyed two enemy aircraft during a single intercept.

2000s

Year	|Awardee	|Action
2000	E10E1 Mission Lieutenant Colonel Marlon Nailling Major John Andrus Major Kathryn Drake Major David Sellars Captain Richard Hunt Captain Kevin Keith Captain Karey Dufour Captain Karin Petersen Captain Donna Fournier First Lieutenant Lucas Jobe Staff Sergeant Edward Franceschina Staff Sergeant Heather Robertson Staff Sergeant Bradley Atherton Staff Sergeant Ryan Reller Staff Sergeant Brian Hoffmeyer Senior Airman Chad Schusko E10E2 Mission Colonel Byron Hepburn Lieutenant Colonel Linda Torrens Major Jonas Allman Major Thomas Jenkins Major Lola Casby Major Jeffrey Davis Captain Raymond Chehy Captain Natalie Sykes Captain Michael Smith Captain Tim Carter First Lieutenant Jennifer Bagozzi Staff Sergeant Alan Wooldridge Staff Sergeant Kelly Pollard Staff Sergeant Trent Arnold Staff Sergeant Juan Garza Senior Airman Anna Duffner Critical Care Air Transport Team Colonel David Welling Major Stephan A. Alkins Captain Raymond M. Nudo Captain Andrew J. Reynolds Captain Bernd T. Wegner Staff Sergeant Chyrise M. Jenkins Staff Sergeant Christopher E. Whited	For performing heroic rescue efforts in record time for victims of the USS Cole USS Cole (DDG-67) The second USS Cole is an Arleigh Burke-class Aegis-equipped guided missile destroyer homeported in NS Norfolk, Virginia. The Cole is named in honor of Marine Sergeant Darrell S. Cole, a machine-gunner killed in action on Iwo Jima on 19 February 1945, during World War II...  attack USS Cole bombing The USS Cole Bombing, or the USS Cole Incident, was a suicide attack against the United States Navy destroyer on October 12, 2000 while it was harbored and refueled in the Yemeni port of Aden. Seventeen American sailors were killed, and 39 were injured...  during the 6,000 mile round-trip journey between Aden Aden Aden is a seaport city in Yemen, located by the eastern approach to the Red Sea , some 170 kilometres east of Bab-el-Mandeb. Its population is approximately 800,000. Aden's ancient, natural harbour lies in the crater of an extinct volcano which now forms a peninsula, joined to the mainland by a... , Yemen Yemen The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east.... , Djibouti Djibouti Djibouti , officially the Republic of Djibouti , is a country in the Horn of Africa. It is bordered by Eritrea in the north, Ethiopia in the west and south, and Somalia in the southeast. The remainder of the border is formed by the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden at the east... , and Ramstein Air Base Ramstein Air Base Ramstein Air Base is a United States Air Force base in the German state of Rheinland-Pfalz. It serves as headquarters for the United States Air Forces in Europe and is also a North Atlantic Treaty Organization installation... , Germany Germany Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate... . Aircrew members launched two rescue C-9 Nightingale crews within one hour of alert.
2001	KNIFE 04 20th Special Operations Squadron 20th Special Operations Squadron The 20th Special Operations Squadron is part of the 27th Special Operations Wing at Cannon AFB, New Mexico. It operates CV-22 Osprey aircraft in support of special operations.-Mission:...	For rescuing the crew of a sister ship under extremely hazardous weather conditions behind enemy lines in Afghanistan Afghanistan Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world... .
2002	GRIM 31 16th Special Operations Squadron 16th Special Operations Squadron The 16th Special Operations Squadron is part of the 27th Special Operations Wing at Cannon AFB , New Mexico. It operates AC-130H Spectre aircraft in support of special operations.- Mission :...	For rescuing 82 U.S. Army soldiers, including 28 wounded, trapped in a rugged valley in Afghanistan Afghanistan Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...  by Taliban and Al-Qaeda Al-Qaeda Al-Qaeda is a global broad-based militant Islamist terrorist organization founded by Osama bin Laden sometime between August 1988 and late 1989. It operates as a network comprising both a multinational, stateless army and a radical Sunni Muslim movement calling for global Jihad...  forces. The 14-man crew of an Air Force AC-130H Spectre gunship engaged the enemy from overhead during a two-hour, night-time operation that permitted two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters to land and pick up the battered troops.
2003	Crew of Vijay 10 Lieutenant Colonel Shane Hershman Major Bob Colvin First Lieutenant Matt Clausen Master Sergeant Shawn Brumfield Master Sergeant Chris Dockery	Vijay 10 was the lead C-17 Globemaster III C-17 Globemaster III The Boeing C-17 Globemaster III is a large military transport aircraft. Developed for the United States Air Force from the 1980s to the early 1990s by McDonnell Douglas, the C-17 is used for rapid strategic airlift of troops and cargo to main operating bases or forward operating bases throughout...  in a formation of C-17s from the 62d 62d Airlift Wing The 62d Airlift Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. It is assigned to the Eighteenth Air Force of Air Mobility Command and is active duty host wing on McChord. The wing is composed of more than 7,200 active duty military and civilian...  and 446th Airlift Wing 446th Airlift Wing The 446th Airlift Wing is a United States Air Force Reserve unit. The wing is stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. If ordered to Active Service, the unit would come under the Air Mobility Command 15th Expeditionary Mobility Task Force.... s, McChord Air Force Base, Washington. Vijay 10's crew led the largest combat airdrop Airdrop An airdrop is a type of airlift, developed during World War II to resupply otherwise inaccessible troops, who themselves may have been airborne forces. In some cases, it is used to refer to the airborne assault itself. Early airdrops were conducted by dropping or pushing padded bundles from...  since World War II. On 26 March 2003, Vijay 10 led Operation Northern Delay Operation Northern Delay On March 26, 2003, during Operation Iraqi Freedom, C-17s of the 62d Airlift Wing, 315th Airlift Wing, 437th Airlift Wing, and 446th Airlift Wing dropped SETAF's 173rd Airborne Brigade into Northern Iraq. More than 1,000 paratroopers jumped into Bashur Airfield...  with an airdrop of 1,000 members of the US Army 173rd Airborne Brigade soldiers over Bashur, Iraq Iraq Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....  which opened the northern front to combat operations. After the initial insertion, Vijay 10 crewmembers, along with active and reserve crews from Charleston Charleston Air Force Base Joint Base Charleston is a United States military facility located in North Charleston, South Carolina. The facility is under the jurisdiction of the United States Air Force 628th Air Base Wing, Air Mobility Command...  and McChord Air Force Bases flew four more night missions.
2004	Crew of Jolly 11 First Lieutenant Bryan Creel Captain Joseph Galletti Staff Sergeant Vincent J. Eckert Staff Sergeant John Griffin Staff Sergeant Patrick Ledbetter Sergeant Thomas Ringheimer Crew of Jolly 12 Captain Rob Wrinkle First Lieutenant Gregory Rockwood Tech Sergeant Michael Preston Tech Sergeant Paul Silver Staff Sergeant Matthew Leigh Staff Sergeant Michael Rubio Senior Airman Edward Ha	Jolly 11 and Jolly 12 crewmembers distinguished themselves by gallantry in connection with rescue operations near Kharbut, Iraq Iraq Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert.... , on 16 April 2004. While supporting of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Jolly 11 Flight launched to rescue a five person crew of a U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook CH-47 Chinook The Boeing CH-47 Chinook is an American twin-engine, tandem rotor heavy-lift helicopter. Its top speed of 170 knots is faster than contemporary utility and attack helicopters of the 1960s...  that crashed in a sandstorm with near zero-visibility. En route to the crash scene, crews realized their forward looking infra-red and night vision goggles Night vision goggles A night vision device is an optical instrument that allows images to be produced in levels of light approaching total darkness. They are most often used by the military and law enforcement agencies, but are available to civilian users...  were ineffective. Despite this handicap the crew of Jolly 11 was able to locate the survivors. Both aircraft then made near zero-visibility approaches relying nearly exclusively on the flight engineers and aerial gunners inputs for precision navigation. Following the successful survivor contacts and recovery by the Flight’s Pararescuemen, Jolly 11 and Jolly 12 were individually engaged by separate multiple surface-to-air missiles attacks. Using evasive maneuvers Jolly 11 evaded two missiles. Both Jolly 11 and Jolly 12 continued to provide support with defensive fire until the formation was clear of the threat area saving the lives of five U.S. Army personnel.
2005	Crew of Train 60 Major Michael S. Frame Major Brian Lewis Master Sergeant Tommy Lee Master Sergeant John Spillane Tech Sergeant Corey Turner	Train 60 crewmembers were C-130 Hercules C-130 Hercules The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport...  instructors for the newly formed Iraqi Air Force Iraqi Air Force The Iraqi Air Force or IQAF is the military branch in Iraq responsible for the policing of international borders, surveillance of national assets and aerial operations... . The crew's unprecedented mission was to act as the inaugural Iraqi "Air Force One" and take the Iraq Prime Minister Prime Minister of Iraq The Prime Minister of Iraq is Iraq's head of government. Prime Minister was originally an appointed office, subsidiary to the head of state, and the nominal leader of the Iraqi parliament. Under the newly adopted constitution the Prime Minister is to be the country's active executive authority...  from Baghdad Baghdad Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...  to Al Sulaymania to meet with Kurdish leaders. During the mission, Train 60 crewmembers instructed Iraqi aircrew members on flight procedures in a combat environment, quickly improvised a low-level route through mountains to avoid low ceilings and landed on a taxi way at an uncontrolled and uncompleted Iraqi airfield that did not have an American security presence. Their efforts ensured the safety of the all Iraqi crew and the Iraqi head of state during this landmark airlift event.
2006	Captain Scott Markle	Captain Markle was diverted to support special forces Special forces Special forces, or special operations forces are terms used to describe elite military tactical teams trained to perform high-risk dangerous missions that conventional units cannot perform...  troops along the Afghanistan Afghanistan Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world... -Pakistan Pakistan Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...  border in contact with Taliban forces. He arrived just before dawn and heavy gunfire and tracers Tracer ammunition Tracer ammunition are bullets that are built with a small pyrotechnic charge in their base. Ignited by the burning powder, the phosphorus tail burns very brightly, making the projectile visible to the naked eye...  and poor visibility made it difficult to find the team's location. Captain Markle, unable to employ weapons due to the enemy's close proximity to the team, flew a dangerously low pass over the area while releasing self-protection flares Flare (countermeasure) A flare is an aerial infrared countermeasure to counter an infrared homing surface-to-air missile or air-to-air missile. Flares are commonly composed of a pyrotechnic composition based on magnesium or another hot-burning metal, with burning temperature equal to or hotter than engine exhaust... . When flares momentarily halted enemy fire. The ground controller requested a few more close passes to the special forces team time to create more distance between themselves and the Taliban. The seporation allowed Captain Markle to strafe the enemy area with more than 1,000 30 millimeter GAU-8 Avenger The General Electric GAU-8/A Avenger is a 30 mm, hydraulically-driven seven-barrel Gatling-type rotary cannon that is mounted on the United States Air Force's Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II. It is among the largest, heaviest and most powerful aircraft cannons in the United States military...  rounds on his final pass. The special forces team was able to disengage with no casualties. Captain Markle was credited with destroying three machine gun Machine gun A machine gun is a fully automatic mounted or portable firearm, usually designed to fire rounds in quick succession from an ammunition belt or large-capacity magazine, typically at a rate of several hundred rounds per minute....  nests and killing 40 enemy combatants.
2007	Panther 11 Flight Colonel Charles Moore Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Williams Captain Lawrence Sullivan Captain Kristopher Struve	A 4-ship formation of F-16 Fighting Falcons based at Joint Base Balad, Iraq Iraq Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....  flew an 11-hour mission over 6 countries and requiring 13 air refuelings supported ground operations in the Tora Bora Tora Bora Tora Bora , known locally as Spīn Ghar , is a cave complex situated in the White Mountains of eastern Afghanistan, in the Pachir Wa Agam District of Nangarhar province, approximately west of the Khyber Pass and north of the border of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas in Pakistan...  region of Afghanistan Afghanistan Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
2008	Crew of Bone 23 Major Norman Shelton Captain Kaylene Giri Captain Louis Heidema Captain Boyd Smith	Confronting a two hundred-strong enemy force that was attempting to overrun their base, the Joint Terminal Attack Controller requested a two thousand pound guided weapon. When the crew of BONE 23 realized friendly forces were in Danger Close range, they suggested a five hundred pound guided weapon, instead. Faced with a critical fuel situation, the crew coordinated to move their tanker closer providing more time on station and, within thirty minutes, BONE 23 accomplished three bomb runs decisively slowing the enemy attack, allowing coalition forces to regroup.
2009	Crew of Pedro 16 Captain Robert Rosebrough First Lieutenant Lucas Will Master Sergeant Dustin Thomas Staff Sergeant Tim Philpott	The crews of "Pedro 15" and "Pedro 16" operating HH-60G Pavehawks came under enemy fire 29 July 2009 during a medical evacuation mission as part of the 129th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron at Kandahar Air Base, Afghanistan Afghanistan Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world... . Three Soldiers had been wounded near Forward Operating Base Forward Operating Base A forward operating base is any secured forward military position, commonly a military base, that is used to support tactical operations. A FOB may or may not contain an airfield, hospital, or other facilities. The base may be used for an extended period of time. FOBs are traditionally supported...  Frontenac when their convoy was hit with an improvised explosive device Improvised explosive device An improvised explosive device , also known as a roadside bomb, is a homemade bomb constructed and deployed in ways other than in conventional military action...  and became engaged by enemy combatants. During the recovery operation "Pedro 15" was downed by enemy fire, injuring the crew. "Pedro 16", along with Army OH-58 Kiowa OH-58 Kiowa The Bell OH-58 Kiowa is a family of single-engine, single-rotor, military helicopters used for observation, utility, and direct fire support. Bell Helicopter manufactured the OH-58 for the United States Army based on the 206A JetRanger helicopter. The OH-58 has been in continuous use by the U.S... s, suppressed enemy fire. Captain Rosebrough developed a plan to evacuate all the wounded personnel aboard "Pedro 16" and two Kiowa helicopters. Their efforts ensured the recovery of the six "Pedro 15" crew members and three wounded soldiers.

2010s

Year	|Awardee	|Action
2010	Dude Flight Lieutenant Colonel Donald D. Cornwell Lieutenant Colonel Dylan T. Wells Captain Leigh P. Larkin First Lieutenant Nicholas R. Tsougas	While operating as a flight of two F-15E Strike Eagle F-15E Strike Eagle The McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle is an all-weather multirole fighter, derived from the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle. The F-15E was designed in the 1980s for long-range, high speed interdiction without relying on escort or electronic warfare aircraft. United States Air Force F-15E Strike... s - call signs Dude 01 and Dude 02 - they were tasked to support a Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force team surrounded by over 100 enemy fighters in the town of Bala Morgab, Afghanistan Afghanistan Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world... . With weather below rescue force launch minimums, Dude flight used terrain-following radar Terrain-following radar Terrain-following radar is an aerospace technology that allows a very-low-flying aircraft to automatically maintain a relatively constant altitude above ground level. It is sometimes referred-to as ground hugging or terrain hugging flight...  to execute five "Show of Force" passes in a valley surrounded by high terrain. When hostilities escalated, Dude Flight expertly employed six Joint Direct Attack Munition Joint Direct Attack Munition The Joint Direct Attack Munition is a guidance kit that converts unguided bombs, or "dumb bombs" into all-weather "smart" munitions. JDAM-equipped bombs are guided by an integrated inertial guidance system coupled to a Global Positioning System receiver, giving them a published range of up to... s, helping kill over 80 Taliban fighters who occupied reinforced positions within the town. Their efforts helped save the lives of approximately 30 coalition troops. There were no civilian casualties.